Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

How Swiss are Swiss companies?

By 2015, half of all top managers in Swiss companies will be foreigners. Do you think the prized “Swissness” of these companies is being eroded, or is it a positive development that the best managers are chosen regardless of their nationality?

Overseas executives already account for two-thirds of management in large multinationals and top blue chip firms headquartered in Switzerland. Smaller companies are also hiring more foreign recruits that possess the know-how to expand into new markets.

Foreign executives are increasingly drawn to Switzerland, lured by high living standards and the international reputation of the Swiss corporate brand.

Export oriented Swiss companies are also on the lookout for the best international talent as they expand into new markets and to make up for shortages of highly skilled recruits in the local workforce.

Recruitment firm Guido Schilling compiles an annual report of company hiring habits drawn from a representational survey of the largest 116 Swiss firms.

The 2012 report found that 45 per cent of all top executives in Swiss firms were foreign.

More

More

New book lifts lid on commodities giants

This content was published on The Berne Declaration this week published a book that takes an in-depth look at the notoriously secretive industry. Critics want to see changes, especially tighter regulations, but the Swiss authorities appear happy with the status quo. According to “Commodities: Switzerland’s Most Dangerous Business”, the sector has witnessed a “meteoric” rise: a 15-fold increase in trade…

Read more: New book lifts lid on commodities giants

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR